Qld groundwater levy for CSG companies

Coal seam gas (CSG) companies will pay for the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) to manage the state's groundwater supplies with a levy to be introduced in 2012.

The announcement by Environment Minister Vicky Darling came as she revealed that no impacts from CSG activity had been found in nearby aquifers after monitoring of groundwater bores.

Ms Darling has released a draft paper for a levy on petroleum tenure holders, to be established in 2012.

"It's only fair that the industry pays for the costs of ensuring the environment is protected, Ms Darling said in a statement. "The QWC plays a key role in managing the impacts of CSG water extraction on groundwater resources and this levy ensures the companies developing this resource are paying for this work."

Monitoring of nearly 200 groundwater bores close to CSG operations in the Surat and Bowen Basins had revealed no evidence of water impact so far this year, Ms Darling said.

Queensland Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors welcomed the levy as "sensible", but accused the government of making policy on the run.

She was critical of the four-week timeframe the state government has given for public feedback on its draft.

"It is crazy to expect community and environment groups to provide feedback by 14 October," Ms Connors said in a statement, before repeating calls for a moratorium on CSG projects.

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